Designers
Peter Post, Petra Esveld
Year
2026
Category
Product
Country
Germany
Design Studio / Department
Studio Peter Post × Petra Esveld
»Freii addresses the important issue of preventing problematic digital media use among adolescents. What sets this solution apart is that it doesn't rely on rules or moralizing. Instead, it brings young people, their peers, and their families together in a supportive and engaging way. The jury was also impressed by the strong evidence base behind the program. Freii was developed through research, co-creation, and iterative testing and is supported by robust data. Measurable improvements in awareness, behavior, and reduced screen time, including positive changes reported by 66% of participants, make Freii a truly convincing solution.«
UX Design Awards Jury, Autumn 2026
Three questions to the project team
What was the particular challenge of the project from a UX point of view?
The freii programme and its core component, the freii app, address problematic digital media use among children and adolescents. A key challenge was designing a digital experience that could engage a generation accustomed to highly polished apps and content without increasing screen time. The solution was to make four real young guides the primary interface and limit daily interaction to only a few minutes. Evaluation results confirmed this approach.
What was your personal highlight in the development process? Was there an aha!-moment, was there a low point?
A major highlight was the outcome of the two studies involving more than 4,000 children, adolescents, parents, and caregivers. Rarely have we worked with a client so committed to scientific evaluation and iterative improvement. The toughest moments came during the early co-design sessions with teenagers. They were highly selective and uncompromising in their feedback, quickly rejecting some concepts we were personally attached to. But those reality checks ultimately resulted in a better and more user-centred product.
Where do you see yourself and the project in the next five years?
Based on the positive outcomes of two studies, increasing bookings for professional training, and long-term funding from two established foundations, Villa Schöpflin has scaled freii nationwide. The estimate is that the programme—including the app, workshops and supporting content channels—could reach approximately 10% of German schools and their students and families over the coming years.
